1997 Ford Explorer “Cobra”

The 1995 model year brought the second-generation Ford Explorer, a restyled and re-engineered version of the midsize SUV that kept the Ranger-derived body-on-frame layout. The 1995 redesign gave the Explorer smoother, more rounded styling and a revised interior. The base engine remained the 4.0-liter overhead-valve (OHV) V6, and the four-door body continued alongside a two-door Explorer Sport. For the 1996 model year Ford added a 5.0-liter overhead-valve V8, initially in two-wheel-drive form, giving the Explorer its first V8. For 1997 Ford introduced a single-overhead-cam (SOHC) version of the 4.0-liter V6 rated at 205 horsepower, added a five-speed automatic and a new electronic transfer case, and made the 5.0-liter V8 available with all-wheel drive. The 5.0-liter V8 remained in the lineup through the 2001 model year, the last year of the second generation. The 1995-2001 Explorer is also closely tied to the Ford and Firestone tire controversy: in 2000 and 2001, tread separations on certain Firestone tires fitted to Explorers were linked to rollover crashes, prompting recalls of millions of tires and a public split between Ford and Firestone.